Schools tackle hunger problem

Friday

Sep 6, 2013 at 2:40 PM

The subject of hungry children is thought of as a Third World problem, and not one here in Hempstead County. But teachers and administrators in area schools say there are hungry children in Hempstead County.

Grace Leonhart, Hope Star Writer

The subject of hungry children is thought of as a Third World problem, and not one here in Hempstead County. But teachers and administrators in area schools say there are hungry children in Hempstead County.
According to Spring Hill Schools Superintendent Angie Raney, “There are 25-30 kids who participate in a back-pack program at the elementary school.”
“The Arkansas Rice Depot sends in kid-friendly food that kids can prepare themselves,” Raney said. “Some of these kids don't get any meals over the weekend and that's why we want to help them and make sure they get nutritionally appropriate food.”
A similar back-pack program is in place at Blevins Elementary and Blevins High School, according to School Nurse Nina Thompson.
“We get food through the Arkansas Rice Depot with our Migrant Program, but we also get food for the children from Harvest of Texarkana,” she said.
Harvest of Texarkana is a Hempstead County United Way-funded agency.
“We serve approximately 20 children throughout the school year,” Thompson said. “Harvest furnishes a backpack and contents once a week for the kids. We go to Wal-Mart in Hope and meet the truck to get the food.”
The packed foods meet critical nutrition needs, she said.
“The kids get two cereals, juice, shelf-stable milk, two main entrees, and two cans of protein for each weekend, and they get it once a week,” Thomson said. “This is food that meets USDA standards; it's not junk food. It's already bagged up when we get it from Texarkana, so every child gets the same amount of food.
“The program serves both the high school and elementary school,” she said. “We served 24 children last year, and someone donated money for the program also. That was a big blessing, as is the whole program. I try to get their bag to them as discreetly as I can, and it's usually on Thursday or Friday, so they can have food at home on the weekend that they can cook.”
Monetary donations may be arranged by calling 870-874-2283, according to Thompson.
“If it's a donation in the form of a check, make the check to Harvest of Texarkana,” she said. “Any donations are tax-deductible.”
A report by No Kid Hungry that resulted from a survey which was given to more than 1,200 K-8 grade teachers across the nation highlights the on-the-ground view of hunger as told by public school teachers and principals.
On average, according to the report, teachers who buy food for hungry students spend about $37 a month and principals report spending about $60 a month.
Beryl Henry Elementary and Clinton Primary have had the program in place for several years, according to Christi Sullivan, counselor at Beryl Henry Elementary School.
“We have food available on a needs basis,” Sullivan said. “We get a shipment one time a month from the Arkansas Rice Depot. If kids get here late and haven't had breakfast or when they don't have the money for breakfast, we make sure they have something nutritious to eat.
“Those kids who are ill with headaches, I usually try to give them a snack,” she said. “Ninety percent of the kids with headaches in the morning are hungry, and the snacks help ease their headaches.”
All the snacks and food that are given to the students are kid-friendly, according to Sullivan.
“We give out fruit bowls, applesauce, Vienna sausages, granola bars, and ravioli in the can, among other items,” she said.
“The food that we give is food that children can make themselves at home if no one is there to fix them a meal.
“About 40 kids at BHE participate in the program right now, and it really helps them get nutritious food that they can make themselves,” she said.
In 2010, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Share Our Strength joined together with Governor Mike Beebe and First Lady Ginger Beebe to launch the Arkansas No Kid Hungry campaign. This public-private partnership is working to end childhood hunger in Arkansas by connecting kids to federal food and nutrition programs, including school breakfast, summer meals, and after school meals programs, as well as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
To learn more about hunger in the schools, go to NoKidHungry.org/Arkansas online.